Brighton guard Brandon Miller, one of the leading scorers in Class 5A last season, has committed to play his college basketball with the Utah Utes.

Miller made his pledge to Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak on Wednesday evening, giving the Utes another high-scoring guard in the 2013 class to pair up with East's Parker Van Dyke.

"It was a lot of things - I wouldn't say any one big thing made me choose them," Miller said. "I feel very confident about it, that I'm going to a program that can win and develop me as a player."

Miller scored nearly 22 points per game as the Bengals made a surprise run to the Class 5A finals, finishing runner-up to Lone Peak. He also played for the Salt Lake Prospects AAU team this summer.

At 6-foot-2, Miller is considered one of the premier players in the 2013 class. He's a top-flight shooter but also has shown ability to drive and finish, and can burn opponents on the free throw line.

Brighton coach Jeff Gardner was more than willing to share his own excitement about his star player's college choice.

"I'm thrilled with his decision," Gardner said. "I feel really good about the way the coaching staff has recruited him, and I think he'll fit in really well there."

But it wasn't just about basketball for Miller. Academically, he's interested in getting an accounting degree as an undergraduate, but Utah's dental school - opening in 2013 - would give him a path into oral health that he's been interested for several years.

"I've had a love for the dentistry field, and I've been shadowing someone who works in it," Miller said. "It's just kind of a possibility."

Miller's primary contact throughout the process was assistant coach Tommy Connor, who he called a "great teacher of the game." Working with Connor at Utah's Elite camp helped persuade Miller that the Utes would help him develop to play at the Pac-12 level.

Although BYU has arguably the two top in-state prospects locked up in guard Nick Emery and forward Eric Mika from Lone Peak, Utah now has commitments from two of the best guards.

Miller said he would have no problem playing with Van Dyke, as the two played with each other growing up. The Utes coaching staff plans on using a three-guard offense where he and Van Dyke could periodically switch roles.

Both Miller and Van Dyke have expressed a desire to go on an LDS Church mission before college.

Miller picked the Utes over Harvard, where his older brother Corbin Miller plays.

"I think the allure of Harvard was to play with his brother again," said Bret Miller, Brandon's father and AAU coach. "But Brandon isn't quite sure yet where his future will lead, so he wanted some options."

Gardner said he's looking forward to seeing how Miller responds to taking a senior role on next year's team.

"I think it will do him good to be in that leadership role," he said. "He's had the spring and summer to think about what he's going to do, and how he's going to take that on."

— Kyle Goonkgoon@sltrib.comTwitter: @kylegoon